To Self-Mobilize ERS Dysfunctions in the Upper TS:
The patient is standing approximately three feet from a wall and places their hands on the wall at shoulder height.
Instruct the patient to drop their head down and push their arms against the wall fully extending their elbows and rounding their upper back. They should feel a stretch in their upper back.
Make sure that the apex of spinal flexion occurs in the upper and not the middle or lower back when they extend their arms.
Instruct the patient to rotate their head to the R to stretch L sided ERS dysfunctions or rotate their head to the L to stretch R sided ERS dysfunctions as they extend their arms fully.
Ask the patient to hold for 5-10 seconds.
Then have the patient stand up straight and lean into the wall maintaining a neutral low back. Ask the patient to try to touch the wall with their forehead.
The shoulder blades should draw close together as they drop into the wall.
Instruct the patient to hold this position for 5-10 seconds and repeat the entire exercise 3-5 times.